Satellite groundwater mapping and remote sensing
Satellites cannot see underground, but they can see the traces groundwater leaves at the surface. Here is how BhdBlue reads them, and what to expect.
Analyse my land First analysis free, results in a few minutes.
What a satellite really sees
Groundwater sits in the pores of sediments or in rock fractures, from a few metres to several hundred metres deep. No optical satellite sees it directly. Several signs visible from space are, however, linked to it:
- Vegetation that stays green in the dry season: its roots reach water close to the surface.
- Low-lying areas where water accumulates, found with the topographic wetness index computed from the terrain.
- The shape of the terrain: valleys, hollows and foot-slopes where water converges.
- Lineaments, straight lines in the terrain that reveal faults and fractures.
- The wadi network and the way it cuts the land.
The satellites and indices BhdBlue uses
- Sentinel-2 (the European Copernicus programme): 10 m imagery, from which cloud-free dry-season NDVI (vegetation vigour) is derived.
- Copernicus DEM 30 m: the terrain model, from which slope, flow accumulation, the topographic wetness index (TWI) and lineaments are computed.
- CHIRPS: rainfall estimated from satellites and stations, averaged over 10 years.
- SoilGrids and ESA WorldCover: soil texture and land cover.
Taken one by one, these indices can mislead: an irrigated field is green even without an aquifer. That is why BhdBlue combines them with geology in a multi-criteria analysis, and flags when a result is fragile.
Limits to know
- The method shows favourable zones, not the certain presence of water, nor its depth, yield or quality.
- The grid is 30 m: an exact spot must be confirmed on the ground.
- In heavily irrigated or urban areas, vegetation indices say less.
- For a large project, an on-site geophysical survey is still advised before drilling.
Try it on your land
Draw your land on the map or enter its GPS coordinates: in a few minutes you get the map of favourable zones, the best drilling spots and a PDF report in French and Arabic. The first analysis is free.
Method and limits
Each analysis combines satellite-derived indicators (terrain, vegetation, drainage, lineaments), geological and climate datasets, and a multi-criteria GIS analysis (AHP) that estimates groundwater potential. It is neither a field measurement nor a geophysical survey. See the detailed method
Frequently asked questions
Can a satellite see an aquifer?
Not directly. Optical satellites measure the surface: vegetation, land cover, terrain. BhdBlue uses them as clues, combined with geology, to estimate where an aquifer is most likely.
How is this different from a water detector sold online?
BhdBlue uses no miracle device: only measured public data (satellites, terrain, rainfall, geology) and a multi-criteria method described in the report.
Are the images up to date?
Sentinel-2 images are recent, taken in the dry season. Terrain and geology change very little.
More guides
Groundwater detection in Morocco
Find the zones most favourable to groundwater on your land, anywhere in Morocco, using satellites and the national geological map.
Groundwater potential assessment
A groundwater potential map of your land, cell by cell at 30 m, built from open satellite data and a widely used multi-criteria method.
GIS hydrogeological analysis
The work of a hydrogeological GIS study (preparing layers, scoring, weighting, checking) done automatically and described in a report you can present.
Groundwater exploration
The desk study for your groundwater exploration campaign in a few minutes instead of several days: favourable zones, targets to check on the ground and a report ready to share.
Where to drill a well
The choice of site decides whether a well or borehole succeeds. Here is what really matters, and how to find the best spots on your land in a few minutes.
Ready to find water on your land?
A free trial analysis, then the plan that suits you.